Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 484

PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
DESIGN AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO
@EILEENSHAPIRO3
NYC’S NIGHTLIFE AWARD WINNING BLOGGER/
WRITER & INTERVIEWER JIM SILVESTRI
NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS
JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM
The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any
other related print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images,
quotations or articles should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual
orientation of anyone portrayed therein.
All Content © Copyright 2019
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COMING SOON
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BY JIM SILVESTRI
On Point
With:
SENOBYTE
A veteran nightlifer and co-creator of one
of NYC’s most popular “consenting adult”
branded events, Senobyte is busier than he’s
ever been, spinning for several top shows in
major venues.
Interview >>>
Thotyssey: Hello,
Senobyte. How did this
past month treat you?
Senobyte: My September
has been very busy, starting
with DJing at Playhouse,
Pieces and the Q, as well
as my own events. So,
things have been a nonstop
rollercoaster of fun and
sleep deprivation, lol.
We’re not quite back to the
“glory days” of 2019 yet…
but still, are you surprised
how quickly things have
developed since lockdown
ended?
Not really. Nightlife and
queer people in general
have always been resilient,
especially here in New York.
We know how to bounce
back and we know how to
get it done. We just want to
bring some normalcy and joy
back as quickly as possible,
after a year and a half of
dread.
How did you begin
in the scene?
I was first and
foremost a nightlife
“personality” and
promoter, back in
the day of what I
call the “new era”
of 2008-2009. I
started going out
and met all these
amazing people. I
got snatched up by
Lee Chappell and started
working events with them.
My DJing didn’t really take
off until recently. Maybe it
was my own insecurities or
my fear that kept me from
going for it sooner. But
thankfully, the right people
have noticed and helped me
start doing what I love. And
here we are, better late than
never.
Prior to this newer focus
on DJing, you created an
umbrella series of events
called “Scum” with John
Marto, where consenting
adults could meet and…
play!
We started Scum three
years ago, in March 2018 in
Brooklyn. It basically started
out of my annoyance with
not getting booked; I said,
“You know what? If they
won’t book me, I’ll build my
own [nights].” And it was an
uphill battle to get where
we are today. We branched
into Manhattan in 2019,
doing a weekly Monday,
and then we branched to
every Saturday as well.
Today, “Scum” is a Brooklyn
monthly, “Thrust” is a weekly
Saturday (Manhattan),
and “Gush” is our weekly
Monday (Manhattan). We
have been going strong
again since May and have
been doing really well. We
actually return to Brooklyn
this Friday.
Many of your current gigs
have you DJing drag shows.
Before we go, give us a
rundown on where we can
find you during the week.
Currently, I am at Playhouse
on Saturdays with Izzy
Uncut, brunch Sundays at
Ñaño Ecuadorian Kitchen
with Chicky Gorgina, [then
later] Pieces on Sundays
with Lexington Banks and
Peachez, back at Playhouse
on Mondays with Lagoona
Bloo and Elektra Lite, and
Wednesdays at the Q with
Castrata.
Every show is different, so it
really keeps me on my toes.
I love a good mini-stress
test, lol! Working with them
all is great, though. We
all just want to put on the
best shows possible for the
people that come to escape
from reality.
Thanks, Senobyte!
Read full interview on Thotyssey.com | Follow Michael Miguel on Instagram: @senobyte

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BY JIM SILVESTRI
On Point
With:
PLASTIQUE TIARA
Although she’s currently quite busy
creating all the digital content her fans
crave and endorsing cosmetics and
fragrances (Really, what beauty company
wouldn’t want her as the face/body of their
campaign!?), RuPaul’s Drag Race Season
11 star and Haus of Edwards luminary
Plastique Tiara is coming to town for the
Halloween season in Night of the Living
Drag, playing live on Friday, October 29 at
Terminal 5.
Interview >>>
Thotyssey: Hello,
Plastique! How was your
summer?
Plastique Tiara: I was very
grateful to be working and
spending time with loved
ones during difficult times
like this.
I’m sure you’ve been
traveling a lot. Do you have
a favorite city or country
to perform in?
I loved performing in Seoul,
Korea. I fell in love with the
food, the people and the
nightlife.
Does being so pretty all the
time ever get exhausting?
Don’t you wish you could
show up to a place in, like,
sweatpants and a hoodie?
Haha! I wear sweatpants
every day, to do anything.
You were already socialmedia
famous
long before
Drag Race,
thanks to
gorgeous
spreads on
Instagram
and flawless
TikTok videos.
Does curating
all of that still take up so
much of your time?
Before, I would work a lot
on curating everything and
making sure everything is
flawless on my social media,
but now I’ll try to have a
little bit more fun with it. I
think time spent for work is
great. However, now I value
time spent with friends and
family more, since you never
know what’s gonna happen.
What’s your favorite
number to perform these
days?
I used to perform “Hello
Bitches” by CL a lot, and
would love to get back to
that.
Kylie Sonique Love just
won Drag Race All-Stars.
She’s so fabulous and
talented, but also you
posed with her in the
photo challenge from your
season…so that must have
had something to do with
it, right?
Haha, yes! That’s why she
won…and I was eighth.
It’s nearly the spooky
season! As a queen, does
every day just feel like
Halloween or is the day
still special and fun?
I think Halloween is when
most drag queens are born…
so it’s very exciting, since
you get to see everyone
express themselves to their
fullest.
Who is the scariest
Halloween movie monster/
killer?
Recently, Candyman really
fucked me up.
You are going to be part of
a squad of amazing queens
in a holiday tour of North
America, care of Voss
Events, called “Night of
The Living Drag” (October
29th at Terminal 5)! Your
drag mom, Alyssa Edwards,
will be along for the ride. Is
she fun to travel with?
This will be the first time we
travel on a tour together, so
I am super, super excited. It’s
going to be terrifying.
Thanks, Plastique!
Read full interview on Thotyssey.com | Follow Plastique Tiara on Instagram: @plastiquetiara

HAPPY
HALLOWEEN!
The next issue will be
November 10th & 20th
EMAIL OR TEXT MIKE
FOR DETAILS
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
(646) 761-3325

BY JIM SILVESTRI
Interview >>>
Thotyssey: Happy
Halloween, Yvie! Your pink
jellyfish look from your
Drag Race season is still
one of my all-time favorite
visuals from the show:
edgy, but so joyful. Does
she ever come out to play
anymore or is she put away
for good?
I still have the umbrella
hanging in my living room,
but the original “garment”
was just strips of shredded
trash bags that I taped to
my body. Needless to say, it
went where all trash bags
go, but I occasionally make
replicas.
Given that you won your
season on a small budget
and a lot of creativity, does
it blow your mind that so
many queens who come on
the show spend so much
money on their looks?
Not in the least. While my
On Point With:
YVIE ODDLY
She may be “RuPaul’s Drag Race’s”
11th season winner, but the spooky
season is always this unique queen’s
time to shine. And with “Zombieland”
in East Rutherford, New Jersey on
October 30th, we’ve finally got the
maximum venue for Yvie Oddly’s edgy
brand of horror-beauty!
budget may
not have been
the biggest, it
was the most
money I had
ever spent on
drag—literally
every cent to
my name and
more. So I’m
not surprised what people
will spend to follow their
dreams. Now...how it is
typically spent is another
answer entirely.
What are your thoughts
on the current state and
future of the Drag Race
franchise? They’ve become
more representative of
a lot more people, but…
there’s just SO much Drag
Race now.
At this point, it is what it is,
and what it is is constant.
There are so many seasons
of Drag Race airing at any
given time that you can
just pick and choose what
you want to watch. Still...I’ll
always fondly remember
going to small Monday
night viewing parties at
my local bar, so there is
a part of me that misses
the intimate sense of
community that watching
Drag Race used to bring.
Now, I’m honestly more
curious about if/how the
art form itself will find a
place in pop culture outside
of the show.
On October 30th you’ll be
near us—specifically the
American Dream mall in
East Rutherford, NJ—for
a Jake Resnicow and Voss
Events-produced event,
“Zombieland”. Your Drag
Race winning predecessor
Aquaria will also be on site.
What can you tell us about
this event?
I can say that it’s going to be
wild! An indoor theme park
with good music, awesome
performances, and NO
CHILDREN!? I’m dying of
excitement.
And finally…is there a
specific horror movie
monster or killer that you
find strangely sexy?
The Xenomorphs from
the Aliens movies are so
sexy to me. They literally
impregnate you and use
your body as a host until
they’re ready to burst free
to become the slickest
armored apex predator
in all the universe. That is
hot! Plus, we all know what
those mouths do.
Happy Halloween, Yvie!
Read full interview on Thotyssey.com | Follow Michael Miguel on Instagram: @oddlyyvie

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
DOUGLAS LYONS
“CHICKEN & BISCUITS”
Welcome back to Broadway, Douglas Lyons. The actor,
playwright, director and composer is premiering his new family
comedy, Chicken & Biscuits, currently at Circle in the Square.
However, Douglas is no stranger to the lights of Broadway,
as he’s appeared in Beautiful and The Book of Mormon. He
has also toured with Rent and Dreamgirls and has written for
television, including Fraggle Rock. His acting and writing credits
seem endless, but this time on Broadway, he is debuting as a
playwright.
Chicken & Biscuits is a hilarious comedy following the Jenkins
family and a reunion that begins to unravel when a family secret
is revealed at the patriarch’s funeral service. I was fortunate to
speak to Douglas about the play, as he revealed some of the
“unravels” and secrets. It’s black, it’s queer, it’s interracial...it’s
sometime funny and very different.

INTERVIEW
Hello, Douglas. Broadway is
opening up now. Are you so
excited?
I’m grateful. I’m less excited and
just more grateful that we made
it through this moment, having
spent almost 19 months in my
apartment. There was a moment
when I thought, “I don’t know if
it’s gonna make it back. I don’t
know if people will be responsible
enough“ and we didn’t have a
vaccine for a long time, so I’m
just grateful--grateful to return to
a space that none of us will ever
take for granted again.
Tell me about your new play,
Chicken & Biscuits.
It’s a comedy centering around a
black family burying the patriarch
of their family. It is an ensemble
piece which features two sisters,
Baneatta and Beverly, who don’t
necessarily get along and all the
extended family coming together
in a very messy but beautiful
kaleidoscope of what it is to heal
and to laugh and to reunite and
to push forward. It’s a comedy, but
it’s also black and it’s very queer
as well. It will be a good time
after hard time we’ve all just been
through. I would say Chicken &
Biscuits would be a good laugh
for anyone who has family.
What inspired the story?
A mixture of personal life and just
studying behavior. I am a writer
that likes to study interesting
characters and moments
that happen. So there was a
moment that happened at my
grandmother’s funeral where my
aunt very dramatically fell out and
that ended up in the play. So I like
to study really theatrical moments
in life and then I sort of figure out
a way to put them in my narrative.

nothing to lose
by experimenting
with the stories, so
let me go for it. I
typically write 10
to 15 pages at a
time. So I’ll write a
script, I’ll write the
first 10 pages, and
then people come
in and I had a lot
of Zoom readings
because we were
not in person, and
then I push forward
with the next thing. I
take that process for
three or four years,
which led me to
where we are now...
the seventh draft
of the play and a
Broadway bow.
You’ve acted on Broadway
already, so what motivated you to
write a play?
I’m a composer and lyricist as well.
I started writing musical projects in
2013 and I’ve been doing that for
eight years now. But I really didn’t
start writing plays until 2017 or
2018. I think part of it was I had a
lot of time backstage in the Carole
King musical and I saw the impact
I could make when I wrote things
and I didn’t have to act in them,
and also having the time when I
could write three or four different
projects at the same time. So that
opened my mind to a little bit of
freedom and then, with curiosity
and life happening, I figured I had
When you were
writing this play or
actually when you
write anything,
do you picture
yourself as a
character?
It’s so funny that
you asked. In my
process of writing,
I act everything out. So if you were
watching me write and hearing me
mouthing the words, I don’t allow a
line to be concrete until I feel that it
sounds good out of my mouth. I will
spend five minutes on one phrase
because I want to make sure that it
feels good as an actor, technically,
and also that it does match the
character I’m writing about. Some
characters will say “Hello”, some
characters will say “Hola”, some
characters will say “What’s up?”,
so I pay specific attention to the
characterization and the language
that I really studied. I act out every
line as I write it, which takes me
so long. Hopefully by the time it’s
gotten to an actor, it feels natural.

What other challenges did you
face in writing this?
The challenges were people felt
that they had “seen something like
this already“ because it’s a black
family comedy with the older black
women, and people I don’t think
were necessarily open to what they
thought to be the narrative. The title
disrupted some people because of
the very understandable attachment
to chicken and biscuits and the
history of what that means in a
stereotype. But I think the beauty of
the play is that I found it’s not just
the food itself, it’s the imagery of
us eating the food, it’s the tradition,
the laughter, the healing, and the
joy that takes place over the food
that the play is addressing. It hasn’t
always been easy trying to get the
play out there and to get people
to even read it when you are a new
writer. They think, “He is an actor
and now he’s writing, so OK I’ll wait
a bit. He’ll learn and then maybe
we’ll meet.” So getting people to
read the work was initially difficult,
but I found a really great producer
that believed in it and is taking it to
the next level.
There’s a gay couple in the play?
There is a gay, interracial couple in
the play. Baneatta and Beverly are
sisters that are burying their father
and Baneatta’s youngest child’s
name is Kenny. Kenny is a queer
black man bringing Logan, his white,
Jewish partner, to meet his extended
black family for the first time, over
his grandfather’s funeral.
I already love the play.
There ya go. And his partner’s
very nervous because Baneatta is
an upstanding Christian woman
who has already made it clear that
Logan is not welcome, but Kenny
has brought him anyway. Every time
she meets Logan, she calls him a
different name or doesn’t actually
acknowledge him, which is sort of a
running thing throughout the play.
You’re watching this very perky
white guy being shoved around and
maneuvering this black family at a
very critical moment.
Is this something that actually
happened to you?
No, it’s not biographical, necessarily.
That did not happen to me, but I
think as a writer creating moments
that we would love to see, that
we would love to dream and
laugh about...just the imagery of a
white, queer, Jewish, neurotic guy
showing up at a black funeral...the
imagery of that is already dramatic
and entertaining. Those are the
pinpoints I like to pull from when I’m
creating something new. I like juicy
things. For example, there are two
sisters burying a father and one of
them knows they have a half sister
because he had an affair, but the
audience doesn’t know what this
character knows. So we’re watching
this character with a secret that she
has not released until the secret
shows up and she has to deal with
it. So I like juicy things and then
figuring out how to create a story
that earns that juicy thing.
You’re involved in something
called “the Next Wave Initiative”.
What exactly is that?
It’s a scholarship program that I
created in the summer of 2020 that
gives small scholarships and awards
to up-and-coming artists in four
different categories. There is the
Alvin Ailey dance scholarship, the
Hattie McDaniel acting scholarship,
the Lorraine Hansberry writing
scholarship and the Spike Lee
directing scholarship. So every year,
we have a sort of open submission
for African American college
students in those disciplines, and the
winners receive financial support.
Our inaugural year was last year,
and I’m really proud to invest in
and encourage and support young
black artists in a way that I didn’t
necessarily get, so that by the time
they graduate college, they will
already be award-winning artists.

I think that’s a special thing, to
acknowledge them in the world that
may never see their full potential.
Is there a favorite role that you’ve
played?
That’s so hard. I think one of my
favorite shows, because of the on
and off stage, was Beautiful. I got
the full Broadway experience when I
joined The Book of Mormon on the
2011 Tony Award nomination day.
It had opened, but I was creating
a new swing track and I got to
the Tonys and all of that. But with
Beautiful, I was there from the out
of town tryouts to the Broadway
transfer to the albums and the
Tonys, and I originated a role on
Broadway. I had my own song
featured and that was
really cool. Doing a story
about a writer’s coming of
age somehow encouraged
me to go for it, and then
I ultimately wrote four
different projects offstage
at Beautiful.
wants to answer. That moment of
young black girls coming into the
theater and seeing someone that
looks like them is a dream come
true. That’s a fantasy come true.
Is there anything that I didn’t
cover that you’d like to talk
about?
I just think when it comes to the
queer community, this play also
deals with what it is to grow up as a
queer person and to navigate family
and to be embraced by family,
misunderstood by family, and that
is rarely seen on a Broadway stage
in a black community. I think it’s
reaching out to young black queer
boys.
Have you had your
ultimate stage fantasy
yet?
You know what? I don’t
know that I’ve had an
ultimate stage fantasy. You
know, being in a Broadway
show is a dream come
true and that is, I think, the
largest fantasy. But I think
what I’m most excited
about now is exposing the
world, the theater world,
to these kinds of different
characters that they don’t
ordinarily see in this
space. And I think we’re
going to see these little
black girls that are inspired
when they see characters
like La’trice, who is a nosy
cousin asking too many
questions that nobody

CHAD
LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018
REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
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BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Salaciously
Cassandra
to the world
Mistress of the
her deep,
her new book
Cruelly, Elvira:
Mistress of the
is released
with the 40th
of the pop
Elvira and the
Cassandra.
ELVIRA
“YOURS CRUELLY, ELVIRA: MEMOIRS OF
THE MISTRESS OF THE DARK”
scandalous,
Peterson--known
as “Elvira, the
Dark”--reveals
dark secrets In
entitled “Yours
Memoirs of the
Dark”. The book
in conjunction
anniversary
culture icon
70th birthday of
The most
glamorous
Hollywood
Halloween
queen on
the planet,
Cassandra tells
all her truths
as one of the
most popular
characters
resonating with
the LGBTQ
community.
Included in her
manuscript are
tales of sexual
assault, her
19-year hidden love affair with a woman, her wild night with Tom Jones, her
meeting with Elvis that changed her life, her uncomfortable moment with
Frank Sinatra, her hysterical encounter with Sammy Davis Jr. and much more.
During a Zoom interview Elvira shared questions and answers regarding
the contents of her self-written escapades. At 70, she is one of the most
beautiful women I have ever encountered, both inside and out...and both as
Elvira and Cassandra.
INTERVIEW
How did you originally
become “Elvira” and did
you think it would last
40 years?
After I got the job, I
predicted it would last
40 days. It was so cheesy
and was on a local station
in Hollywood. They were
looking for a horror
hostess to replace the
previous horror hostess,
so I went on an audition
for the part. I walked in
with my little springtime
turquoise vest, with a
room full of vampires,
basically. Women dressed
up in black, with black
wigs and things. No one
told me to dress up,
but I did get the role,
which was a miracle.
I had a good comedy
background, so I started
joking with the script and
apparently they liked my
jokes.

You were told about
this role on your
honeymoon, but
obviously couldn’t
audition then.
However, when you
came back from your
honeymoon, the role
was still available. Why
do you think you got
the role instead of
those other hundreds
who auditioned?
They had been looking
and looking forever.
They were looking for
somebody who was
sexy and versed in
comedy. Back in those
days, that was pretty
rare. They really couldn’t
find anybody like that.
My friend who called
me about the role
told me that I was the
perfect person because
they were looking for
somebody funny and
sexy. I got the part, I
think, based on the
humor.
Did it make you an
overnight success?
For the first couple of
years, I was just in the
L.A. market, but it did
kind of happen right
away. After the first
show aired, everybody
and their mother was
calling me to ask me if
I would come to their
Halloween party. My
phone number was
listed in the phone
book because I was not
prepared to suddenly
become famous. Very
soon after, I got asked
to be on the Tonight
Show with Johnny
Carson. That was a
game changer. I think
everybody kind of knew
that when you went
on that show, which in
those days was “the
show,” you were pretty
much famous.
As an actress playing
Elvira, was there ever
a conflict as Cassandra
playing yourself?
I had it in my mind
that I would be doing
this little show every
Thursday and then
thinking that I would
have to go out and find
other acting jobs that
actually paid for real. I
was only making $350
a week, so that really
wasn’t covering my bills.
I had it in my head that
this was just gonna be
one little gig and I could
still go out and get
other gigs as Cassandra
because I looked so
different as Elvira.
Nobody recognized
me. Then I would go on
casting calls and I would
see the director’s face
drop because they were
expecting some big
Amazon girl with black
hair. I would come in, a
kind of petite redhead,
and they would ask me
why I was there.
You survived third
degree burns as a
child. How did that
experience affect you
as an adult?
I was burned at only
18 months, and I grew
up during school being
teased and bullied
and made fun of. My
scars were very, very
obvious back then. I felt
like a misfit and I was
extremely shy because
I didn’t want to hang
out with anyone. It was
kind of a setback for
me, and then I finally
realized that I was glad
it happened. Because
I felt like a misfit, I
eventually got into the
world of horror. By the
time I was in second
grade, I was deeply
involved with seeing
horror movies and
buying horror magazines
and all of that. So in a
weird, roundabout way,
the accident led me to
my love of horror and
really got me started
on that path. So I look
at that today as a good
thing.
In the book, you talk
about a relationship
that you’ve had that
most people will not
know about. Can you
give us a little insight?
I was married for 25
years to a man, and
after I was divorced,
I fell in love with a
woman. I had never had
any inclination that I was
gay. Honestly, to tell you
the truth, I don’t think
I’m gay, because I am
attracted to men. But I
fell for this woman. We
were good friends for six
years and we were both
in a relationship, and at
that time, there was no
interest in being with
her. She was just a good
friend.

Eventually, I don’t know
what happened, but we
fell in love and I’ve been
with her for 19 years,
and we had to hide it.
It’s just so hypocritical
and I hate that, but I
do have a character, a
brand and a business
that I was protecting.
Elvira is a giant horndog.
She chases men. All of
a sudden, to be with a
woman is more shocking
to me, I think, than
anyone else.
Back then, it was more
difficult to come out
as gay, but now that
we’re living in a world
that’s a little freer and
more freethinking, is it
easier for you to come
out with it?
The timing is just right.
I had no regrets about
putting that in the
book. I’m so glad that
I can finally just talk
about it and we can be
a couple. It had to be
awful for her, as I always
introduced her as my
assistant for the last 19
years. Actually, she is
my assistant because
she works with me
and I couldn’t run this
business without her. But
introducing her that way
is degrading to her and
lying to me and my fans.
I am at a point in my
life where I need to talk
about it. I need to come
out of the closet, as it
were. I don’t have to
worry about it anymore.
I made enough money
and I’m very set.
It must have been a
huge weight lifted.
It was very draining. It
sucks all of the energy
out of you.
You’ve had encounters
with a lot of different
celebrities, one of
whom was a huge
basketball star, Wilt
Chamberlain. What
happened?
I knew him for many
years before it
happened. It was just
shocking because we
were friends. He was
dating my roommate
and I had met him and
seen him over the years
many times. We were
very friendly. We called
him Uncle Wilty. Then,
one day at his house,
I was at a party and
he sexually assaulted
me. It was very awful.
I didn’t tell anybody
my whole life. I kind of
just crammed it down.
People ask me why I
didn’t go to the police
and I thought, “OK,
he’s a giant sports
legend and I was an out
of work ex-showgirl.
Who are they going to
believe?” Back then, it
would never even have
entered your mind to
go and report someone
like that. You have
seen what happens to
other women who have
reported sexual abuse.
They get trashed by the
press and get called
crazy.
You were the youngest
showgirl in Las Vegas?
It was crazy. It was an
accident. I had been
dreaming my whole life
of being a showgirl. I
went to see the movie
Viva Las Vegas with
Elvis Presley and Ann-
Margret, and from
that day on, I became
obsessed with going to
Vegas and becoming a
showgirl. So I went on
vacation with my mom
and dad and my two
younger sisters. They
stopped in Vegas and I
begged them to please
take me to see one
of the big, glamorous
shows. I convinced
them that I could dress
up and look 21, even
though I was 17. So I
put on makeup and we
were sitting at the show
and before it started,
the maître d’ came over
and asked me if I was a
showgirl in town. I said
“No” and I was afraid
of being discovered
that I was under 21. But
he told me that they
were having auditions
tomorrow and he told
me to audition for it.
The next thing I knew,
out comes the stage
manager who takes
me backstage, has me
dance, then sends me
to the producer. The
next morning, I got the
job. Then my parents
had to sign off on me
because I was underage.
They literally had to
sign a contract saying
that it was OK for me to
perform there. I wasn’t
allowed to go in the
casino or through the
casino, but I was allowed
to dance onstage
topless. It took a lot to
get my parents to sign
that contract because
they were not thrilled, I
can tell you that much.
Eventually, I got them to
sign it.

You had an encounter
with Andy Williams?
I went on a couple of
brief dates with Andy.
Apparently, he liked the
younger girls and I went
on a couple of not so
great dates with him. He
insisted I call him daddy
and eventually I went to
his show and I ended up
biting his lip and making
him bleed right before
he was going out to
perform. That was the
end of me and daddy.
What happened with
Frank Sinatra?
I had the most
embarrassing moment
in my life, perhaps, with
Frank Sinatra. I met
him at a party while I
was the date of one of
the Osmond brothers.
Their parents were with
us, so it was mom and
dad Osmond and all
the Osmond siblings.
I met Mr. Sinatra. He
came up and shook all
the Osmonds’ hands,
and then, when I put
my hand out to shake
his, he leaned back
and said “Nice tits.”
The Osmonds were
so religious and I just
wanted to die. I did
get back with him
years later when I was
working as a hat check
girl at a restaurant in
Hollywood. He came in
and checked his hat, and
I spit in it.
You also met Sammy
Davis Jr.?
Oh, dear God...I was so
stupid. I was 17 at the
time and I had gone
down to Tijuana with
some of the girls on a
day off and I bought
a glass eye there. I
intended to make it into
a ring. But instead, I
found out that Sammy
Davis Jr. and his wife
were coming to the
show. I was thrilled
because I had grown up
my whole life listening
to Sammy. I was very
excited and thrilled, but
got this brilliant idea--
well, actually, it was on
a dare from some of
the other girls. I glued
the glass eyeball that
I had on one of my
nipples and went out
and did the show that
way. I don’t know what
I was thinking, but then
I found out Sammy was
coming backstage. I
almost died. I wanted to
hide. Instead, he came
back and he thought it
was the funniest thing
that he’s ever seen in his
life.
According to your
book, Elvis Presley
changed your life. How
so?
If Elvis had not come
along, I wouldn’t have
gone from being the
youngest showgirl in
history to now the oldest
showgirl in history. He
came and saw my show,
and I was a huge Elvis
fan. I went to a party at
his hotel afterwards with
the girls from the show.

He set me down and
gave me all this advice
and told me I was way
too young to be in Las
Vegas. He told me to
think about a singing
career. We actually sat
down at the piano and
he was singing and I
sang along with him.
He told me I had a nice
voice and told me to
take some vocal lessons.
Even though I thought
I was at the pinnacle
of my career--it was
my dream job being a
showgirl--I took Elvis‘s
advice. After all, he was
Elvis. When my contract
expired, I left for a
singing gig in Europe.
You also met Tom
Jones. What was that
like?
I met Tom Jones and got
backstage. This is really
sleazy. We ended up in
bed. I was pretty much
a virgin at that point.
He didn’t believe me. I
ended up sleeping with
him and then wound up
in the emergency room
and I had to get stitches.
But I was still madly
in love with him and I
went back the next day
to see him and caught
him on the couch with
his backup singer. My
hopes of marrying him
were dashed because I
had no idea he already
had a wife.
In your book, you talk
about Briarcliff Manor.
I am very good at
manifesting stuff, and
if you don’t believe
that, you should read
my book. I think about
something, I concentrate
on something, I feel
it, I become it and it
happens. One of these
examples is I lived in
this 1901 spooky, old
mansion. I was nine
months pregnant and
I was having lots of
dreams about Brad
Pitt. I had just seen
him in Interview with a
Vampire. So I was sitting
at home one day and
the bell rings. I asked
who it was and a voice
says “Brad Pitt.” I didn’t
believe him and thought
it was my writing
partner, so I went down
to check out who the
axe murderer was hiding
behind the gate. I went
down to the gate and
there was Brad Pitt. He
said that “Nicolas Cage
(who was a friend of
mine) had told me about
your house and I would
love to see it.” I couldn’t
get the gate opened fast
enough. I was waddling
around and I was literally
ready to drop the baby.
Anyway, Brad came in
and I took them on a
tour of the house and
then he came back the
next day. Then a few
days went by and Brad
Pitt’s lawyer called us
and said that he wanted
to buy our house.
Have you had your
ultimate stage
fantasy yet? Are you
still looking to do
something else?
Something that I’d like
to accomplish that I’ve
been thinking about and
slightly working on is
doing a Broadway show
of Mistress of the Dark.
That was a dream of
mine. I think it would be
so funny, like in the vein
of Legally Blonde. I think
it would be a really fun
show.
Why do you think
Elvira has become such
a gay icon over the
years? And why do
you think the horror
genre resonates so
well with the LGBTQ
community?
Those are two big
questions that I’ve
always tried to figure
out. I think Elvira
resonates with them
in that, believe it or
not, she’s a little bit
androgynous. She’s
a very sexy woman,
showing a lot of
cleavage and all that,
but then her male
side shows that she
is strong, tough and
determined. I think that
is something people
align with. I think that
Cher and Madonna have
those same qualities.
They are both super
sexy and both tough.
I think that appeals to
gay men and women
because it’s refreshing
to see a woman who
is not ashamed of her
body, but at the same
time doesn’t become a
sexual object. As for the
horror genre, I think it’s
probably for the same
reason that it resonated
so well with me. I was
teased and made fun of
when I was a child--in
my case, it was because
of my scars. But I know
enough gay men who
were also teased and
made fun of.

So I think that they grew
up in general feeling a
little bullied, a little bit
like they didn’t fit in.
Horror kind of attracts
that PHOTOS crowd BY because BILLY in HESS
the movie, you always
have a monster who is
misunderstood, as in the
Frankenstein movie. He’s
really a good guy and
doesn’t mean to be that
way. But he has a series
of things that happen
that gets him to be that
way. He didn’t cause it,
he didn’t want it, it just
is. I think that’s maybe
why the gay community
resonates with horror...
but I’m no psychologist.
But I just feel like I’m a
gay man.
photos / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
Why was it so
important for you to
come out about your
relationship now. Do
you think it will help
people who aren’t so
authentic, but want to
be?
I think it’s a big deal.
I am really excited
about coming out with
this information now
because for 19 years,
after my divorce, I had
this friend for six years
with no inkling that it
was going to turn into
a relationship. I was
more surprised than
anybody else, and she
was certainly surprised.
It wasn’t like coming
out, it just happened. I
just fell in love with this
particular person. But I
am so happy that I am
talking to people about
it now and they can
find out about it now
because having secrets
is not good. It’s like
holding it in--it gives you
gas. I was protecting a
brand, but I held onto
that secret for way too
long. Now I feel like I
BILLY PORTER @ PRIDEFESTIVAL
can talk about it and if
some company doesn’t
want to hire me or host
their television show, well
then, screw them now.
I feel hypocritical about
being around so many
gay people and having
so many gay fans and not
letting them know about
it, but I hope they will
understand it.

BY JIM SILVESTRI
On Point With:
MICHAEL MIGUEL
Exploding onto NYC nightlife after escaping a repressed upbringing,
bartender, recording artist and future movie star Michael Miguel’s
hypersexy new single and video are turning heads…and moving all
sorts of other body parts!
Interview >>>
Thotyssey: Hey, Michael.
I see you were just in
Miami, performing for
Pride onstage with
Paulina Rubio and Erik
García.
Michael Miguel: Yes I was.
It was amazing. I’m beyond
grateful to Paulina and
Erik for the opportunity to
sing and give back to my
community. It’s a moment I
know I will treasure for the
rest of my life. Just to share
the same stage as an icon
as huge as [Paulina],
who has done so much for
the LGBTQ community and
has inspired me to do what
I love…It’s a dream come
true.
And while you were in
Miami, you attended
Billboard’s Latin Week as
well.
Yes, I’m extremely grateful.
I got the opportunity to
meet some of my idols and
peers and connect with
some amazing artists and
people in the industry.
You’re bartending at Atlas
Social Club these days.
How’s it been there since
the re-opening?
It’s been pretty amazing–
not only having an amazing
boss, but a way to connect
to my community more.
Where are you from,
originally?
I’m Colombian and Puerto
Rican–born in Flushing,
New York, and raised in
New Jersey. I spent five
years in Miami and now
I’ve been back in NYC for a
little over four years.

Was music always a part of your life?
I actually was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness,
so it was frowned upon to pursue anything
related to music. But ever since I was a
baby, I loved music. At the age of two, I sang
with a mariachi band in a restaurant called
Tequila Sunrise, so since I was a child, I
knew what I wanted to be.
We love ”Chuku,” your latest single that’s
been making the rounds at the bars and
on playlists. Do I even have to ask what a
”Chuku” is, lol?
The title of the song is a made-up term
my friend Andre invented for ”fucking.”
That way, if there was a family or children
around, he would just say, I’m going to go
”chuku chuku,” and I loved it so much, I
decided to write a song about it, haha!
project. And trust, I loved every second of
him shoving his hot dog down my throat,
haha! That was also improvised…I was not
expecting it!
Well you, um, “took” it very well, lol! I
hear you have new music in the works.
You’ll be getting your own Billboard
Music Awards soon enough!
Thank you! For sure, I have a feeling it’s in
the cards for me. And yes, I recently started
working with a team and a big producer
from the industry. We’re currently working
on my first full album, which hopefully will
be ready by next Miami Pride--where I am
scheduled to perform a full set next year.
Thanks, Michael!
Gag! Speaking
of gagging,
it’s always a
pleasure to
watch local
video vixen
Boomer Banks
shove a hot dog
down a throat.
What was it like
working with
him in the video
shoot?
He’s actually a
very close friend
of mine. I’ve
always loved
how open and
unapologetic
he is about his
sexuality. When
the song got a
lot of traction,
people were
dying for a music
video, and the
first person I
thought of was
Boomer. So I
asked him, and
he loved the
song and the
idea behind the
music video and
signed on to the
Read full interview on Thotyssey.com | Follow Michael Miguel on Instagram: @akamichaelmiguel

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•Relaxing atmosphere
•Professional skills
•Clean and hygienic
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www.UtopiaSpaNYC.com
965 Lexington Ave
2FL @ 70th Street
Tel: 212 -879 -0402
Hours: 10:30AM-11:00PM
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BY JIM SILVESTRI
On Point With:
THE Q’S FRANKIE SHARP
New venue the Q has proven to be
one of post-lockdown NYC nightlife’s
true success stories, thanks in large
part to entertainment entrepreneur
Frankie Sharp. As the Q’s programming
schedule continues to expand and
flourish, you’d think that would be
enough to keep Frankie busy...but in the
Sharp Cinematic Universe, there are
always new places and new parties!
Interview >>>
Thotyssey: Hello again,
sir! I hope this finds you
in your five daily minutes
that you’re not busy
making magic at the Q.
How are you adjusting to
running that successful but
demanding enterprise?
Frankie Sharp: I’m
adjusting pretty crazily,
but swiftly. There are so
many challenges I didn’t
foresee. Like yesterday,
the city wiring beneath us
caught fire and we lost all
of our power... and it was
30 minutes before our sold
out comedy show on the
third floor. This is the most
intense time of my life; it
feels like having a child made
of porcelain. I guess this is
what dreams are made of?
We can go on and on about
the Q--there’s so much
happening there and so
much coming up. But right
now we must
address...
Hush! No,
that’s not a
command.
It’s your new
venture! I
mean, as busy as the Q has
kept you, nobody really
thought that would be the
only place we’d see you.
Tell us about where, when
and how this upcoming
venue became an idea that
will soon be reality.
Isn’t it amazing!? I just really
love my business partner
Bob Fluet (of Boxers, etc.)
and we’ve created such a
great business bond and
shorthand. And I’m learning
so much from him--how
to manage people and
personalities gracefully
and confidently. He’s such a
talent.
But yes, he asked me to
come on to assist with
programming, and as a
minority partner. I’m elated.
But like you said, this is just
the beginning; I’m already
working on two other
spaces as we speak. I can’t
offer too much info on them,
but one of them isn’t what
you would expect from me,
and I can’t wait to share it
with everyone.
Is it overwhelming to think
that the decisions you
make about a new space
right in the beginning can
affect its atmosphere and
programming forever on?
It’s a very conscious part
of my process, actually. It’s
a part of the spell: speak it,
and it will BE it. But then,
magic always changes
and evolves to where it’s
supposed to be, and it’s not
“supposed” to be anywhere.
It’s a constant, moving,
growing, live being/entity.
OMG, I sound insane!
But I very much believe in
believing.
Witchy wisdom! Now,
speaking of your earlierhinted,
unmentionable
projects, a little birdy told
me that something new in
the Lower East Side might
have a “Sharp” edge to it!
Ha! Well, yes...that’s the
space that is the unexpected
venture. It is downtown, yes.
Ugh, I wish I could say more.
All in due time.
Read full interview on Thotyssey.com | Follow Frankie Sharp on Instagram: @frankiesharp

Beyond nightlife, there has long been
talk about a pending TV project you’re a
part of.
We start filming [Saturday]! Once I get to
fully announce the details, I’ll give you the
exclusive on where it’s landing, etc. But
it’s about me and some of the staff of the
Q and some of my nutjob friends. It’s all
about the theatrical drama at the Q itself
and the cuckoo drama behind the scenes.
To be honest, I’m not excited about being
on TV or being quasi-famous or whatever--
but I love money and free clothes.
What are some other things, in or out of
the Q, that we can look forward to and
that we can talk about?
Vincent Cooper--my right hand at the Q
and overall manager extraordinaire--and
I are putting together a new show at the
Q called “Pink Triangle” that’s going to be
a vaudeville spectacle with queens and
kings, Broadway stars, belters, voguers,
and everything in between, so that’s
really exciting. We’re also going to start a
brand new Showtunes Tea Dance in the
fall on Sundays, so imagine the Pavillion
Showtunes event, but a sloppy dance party
and a bunch of sluts.
Then, the amazing “Soft Serve” party by
Dahlia Sin and Lucas Skywalker is moving
over to us as well. We also have literally
seven new regular drag shows happening
throughout the week at the Q. Not to
mention I really want to do that weekly
boozy midnight movie screening event.
Ugh, I need to clone me.
Every household needs at least one
Frankie clone! Well, there’s a lot going
and a lot to look forward to, as usual.
So I’ll let you get back to it. But first,
the final question: As a DJ, what tracks,
albums or artists have you most enjoyed
stunning the children with on the dance
floor this past summer?
Easy...anything by Doja Cat, and Billie
Eilish’s “Oxytocin”.
Thanks again, Frankie!
Where to go?
EASTERN REGION
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ASBURY PARK, NJ
GEORGIE’S
810 5TH AVENUE
PARADISE
101 ASBURY AVE.
PHILADELPHIA (SQUARE)
WOODY’S
202 S 13TH ST
UBAR
1220 LOCUST ST
TRANSMISSION
1330 S WALNUT ST
TAVERN ON CAMAC
243 CAMAC ST
TABU LOUNGE
200 S 12TH ST
KNOCK BAR
225 S 12TH ST
BALTIMORE
LEON’S OF BALTIMORE
870 PARK AVENUE
WASHINGTON DC (NW)
GREEN LANTERN
1335 GREEN COURT NW
JR’S BAR & GRILL
1637 17TH ST NW
LARRY’S LOUNGE
1836 18TH ST NW
NELLIE’S SPORTS BAR
900 U ST NW
NUMBER NINE
1435 P ST NW
PITCHER’S DC
2317 18TH ST NW
THE DIRTY GOOSE
913 U ST NW
TRADE
1410 14TH ST NW
DUPONT ITALIAN KITCHEN(DIK)
1637 17TH ST NW
DRINKERY
203 W READ ST

week in pictures >> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com
BARRACUDA 25TH ANNIVERSARY

BARRACUDA 25TH ANNIVERSARY

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
ARO
ROSE:
“DAMAGED”
Amanda Rose O’Connor,
known by her stage name,
Aro, is quickly and quietly
stealing the hearts of those
she touches. She recently
released her new single,
“Damaged”, an inspiring
song which she hopes will let listeners know that no matter
what life brings you, it is still possible to accomplish your
dreams.
Aro just came off performing at “SohoJohnny Presents The
Let Me Help, Inc. 9/11 Music and Fashion Week Celebrity
Benefit Gala Concert” benefitting “Operation Warrior
Shield”, an organization providing service dogs to wounded
veterans. She not only performed her single, but also sang
“All Is Found” from Frozen 2 as a tribute to her own mom,
who died on 9/11 when Aro was only two years old.
I spoke with Aro regarding her career, her future endeavors
and her new release.
INTERVIEW
What inspires the
lyrics and music to
your original songs?
I really like to
write about my life
experiences and
struggles that I have
faced. I think putting
real emotion into
the lyrics makes a
powerful song. I also
get a lot of inspiration
from movies. I love
writing about scenes
or characters I look up
to.
When did you first
realize that you
wanted to be a
recording artist and
actor?
I’ve wanted to have a
career in the arts from
the very beginning. I
was always fascinated
with the idea of acting
and creating music.
I love the creative
process. It’s a great
way of connecting with
people.

You just came off
a big, celebrity
9/11 charity event
performance. What
made that special for
you?
I was truly honored to
perform at the 9/11
concert. I wanted to
honor my mother that
passed away on 9/11.
She always wanted me
to pursue music. It was
beautiful taking a sad
day and turning it into
something hopeful.
What message do you
hope listeners get
from your new single,
“Damaged”?
I would like people
to truly connect to
the song. I believe no
matter how damaged
you are, there is
always hope to fulfill
your dreams. It’s OK
to accept that you’re
hurting, but you should
never give up. Always
carry on, even if it’s
hard.
What is your most
important goal ?
I would love to create
a fan base that is like
family,
where we
can bond
over the
songs.
Music is a
beautiful
way of
connecting
with
people,
and if
I could
make
one person feel less
alone, I will feel like I’ve
succeeded.
What have been your
biggest challenges
and most triumphant
victories thus far?
Making my first album
was quite difficult,
but it was an amazing
creative process. I really
put all my feelings on
the line and tried to be
as authentic as I can.
I like to consider my
songs like a journal.
I’m hoping there are
people that may feel
similar.
Who are your most
valuable influences
and why?
I’ve loved Adele and
Lana Del Rey for so
long. They’ve been
incredible influences in
my life. Whenever I was
going through a difficult
time, I would listen to
their music. Their music
really connected with
my soul and for that,
they’ve inspired me to
create my own.
Where do you hope to
be in five years?
I want to tour someday.
I think performing
concerts is a thrilling
experience. It’s an
amazing feeling to
connect with the
audience.
Tell me something
about you that no
one knows yet?
I love to draw. I
usually draw a picture
that goes with every
song I create. I find
that drawing helps
the musical process.
When I see an image
on paper, it can help
me develop good
lyrics.
What is next for Aro
in 2021 and beyond?
I will be releasing
my first album. I’m
very excited. Every
song has a different
meaning. I think
people will genuinely
relate to it. I think
there’s a song for
everyone on it. I’m
looking forward to
the future.